Mindfulness for Women

‘This is the book for which many have been waiting, though they may not have known it. It is the ideal beginner’s guide to mindfulness, written by Vidyamala, one of the best respected and well-loved practitioners in the field, who understands mindfulness too deeply to make it complicated; ably aided by Claire, a thoroughly modern and experienced journalist with her finger on the pulse of the complex lives of today’s women’Katherine Weare – Emeritus Professor, University of Southampton

No matter who we are, or what stage of life we are at, we all long for similar things; to be happy, connected with others, in touch with a sense of calm and peace, vital, alive and joyful. And we long to be able to ride out the tough patches that hit all of us from time to time with some degree of grace and dignity.

The good news is that we can fulfil these longings at any time, in any place. They are only a moment away, a breath away. We can learn how to be comfortable with our body, know and understand our mind, and love our heart. It isn't difficult, long-winded or time-consuming. In doing so you'll feel happier in your own skin, less stressed, more confident, more capable and more at ease with yourself and life.

This is what Mindfulness for Women is about. It is a practical guide to coming home to yourself in each present moment. To finding the ledge behind the waterfall of life. To resting in the depths of the ocean rather than being tossed about by surface waves.

Mindfulness is a potent antidote to anxiety, stress, depression, exhaustion and irritability. It leads to a greater sense of contentment and can also reduce addictive and self-destructive behavioural patterns.

This book will enable you to experience the benefits for yourself. It's not designed as a lengthy course but is solutions-based. It's fast - evidence shows that a little bit of mindfulness goes a long way. It's also bespoke - you can read all of it cover to cover, or simply dip in and out, depending on what you want to focus on. You can listen to whichever meditation track suits you at any given time and you can run tracks together if you want to meditate for longer periods. It's designed to suit your life and priorities now and well into the future.

As an advocate for mindfulness in Parliament, I am delighted that this book focuses solely on how women can apply mindfulness to their everyday lives. Vidyamala and Claire recognise that, as women, we can be doubtful at first as to whether this is just adding more to our busy lives and ever-growing to-do list. However, the beauty of this book is that it addresses all of our concerns and speaks our language through its direct approach, solutions and guided practices.